A Day At The Beach...

Yesterday we took a day trip to Wrightsville Beach. This was our first time going to the beach this summer. We have all been eager to go and finally found a day that worked and the weather was cooperating. We had such a good time. We stayed about 5 hours and the girls had fun playing in the waves (which were very rough), making sandcastles and a big pool, and scaring off seagulls who were trying to steal our food. The only downfall of the day was all 5 of us got burnt. We applied sunscreen several times but because of us being sandy and using a spray on sunscreen we missed several spots or did not get it even. So, we have all kinds of funny stripes, circles, etc. Regan did not wear sunglasses and did not like sunscreen near her eyes so she got burnt around her eyes and truly looks like a raccoon now. She fits her Y Guide name, Reading Raccoon. :) But, the day was truly relaxing, fun and a great diversion from our everyday lives. We are looking forward to our week long trip to the beach at the end of this month with the Stepp's. We were actually able to relax a good bit. Tony and I, at one point, were both sitting down relaxing and commented on how nice it was to sit and watch our kids instead of chasing them.

Reece in her own little world. She loved digging and collecting shells.

The girls playing in the waves with Daddy

Reece running from the waves. She was not too fond of them, especially after several knocked her down and she got a mouth full of salty water. :( The water was just too rough for her.

Regan used to be scared of the waves but did much better this time. She was jumping in the waves and swimming along with them. She played in the water most of the day. We were proud of her.

Reece would only go out in the waves if we were holding her.

The girls and I dug a big pool in the sand. We tried to make a waterslide and use our small kickboard but it did not work very well.

We had a big drop off and that is where we were trying to slide down but we could not get the sand wet enough. We started building it too late and the tide was starting to go out. It was still great fun and kept the girls entertained for quite a while.

Visit with the cousins...

On Wednesday, we went to Aunt Abby's to see baby Joshua and Lizzie. We have not seen them since the day after Joshua was born. Joshua looked so different. We were able to cuddle with Joshua for 2 hours and play with Lizzie. It was so fun. Riley and Regan were great helpers with Joshua and Lizzie. Regan entertained Lizzie while Riley held Joshua and fed him. Reece loves babies so she enjoyed seeing Joshua too. Loving on my nephew.

Riley holds Joshua for the first time.

Riley feeding Joshua a bottle - or trying - he is a sleep.

Now Reece is trying to help

Riley finally gets him awake to eat. She was so good with him.

Regan and Lizzie playing ball. Lizzie has quite an arm.

Lizzie having a ball - no pun intended.

Best buds - Regan and Lizzie have a very neat bond.

Joshua - 3 weeks old

Trying to get all the cousins for a good group photo - not happening....

Regan holding Joshua for the first time.

Riley's Front Handspring

Riley just mastered a front handspring this week where she actually lands on her feet instead of her back. Now she is trying to either get up from it or go back over. Good Job Riley!!!

This handspring was even better than her first one.

Reece and Riley being silly. Doing the seal and cat stretch - yoga moves

Doing Cartwheels

Regan's Science Camp...

Regan attended a Science Camp at Cedar Grove Library this past week with her dear friend, Hannah Doucet. The camp was free and sponsored by Glaxo. It was an amazing camp and Regan learned a lot of stuff. They learned how to be safe in a lab, learned about physical and chemical changes, learned about elements, the periodic table, atoms, density, viscosity, acids and bases, and did a lot of neat experiments. Some of the experiments they did was make a volcano, made pennies shiny, made their own cola and tasted it (Regan said it was yucky), Kool-Aid experiment with warm and cold water, made toothpaste and tasted it (very yucky), made glue, and made silly putty. There was a bunch of other experiments too. Regan had such a fun week. She is already looking forward to next year when they will study Oceanography.

Blueberry Pickin'

This week Regan and her friend, Hannah Doucet, attended a science camp at Cedar Grove Library. While Regan was at camp, we had some fun ourselves. We spent most of the week with our dear friends, the Doucets, and went Blueberry Pickin' up near their house. This was our first time picking blueberries and we had a great time. We picked for over 1.5 hrs. and the kids had fun playing together and picking as well. The weather was absolutely gorgeous for us - low humidity and pretty cool. Cedar Grove Blueberry Farm.

Rachel and Riley were awesome Blueberry pickers.

Reece helping pick Blueberries

Rachel, Riley, Caleb and Reece. The kids did great at the Blueberry Farm. This photo was taken at the end and you can tell the kids were ready to go. No more photos please!

Reece, Rachel, and Riley being silly on our way out.

Regan and Hannah playing dress up one day after Science Camp. Silly girls!

Cow Appreciation Day and Our Store's 10 yr. Anniversary

On Friday, July 10th we celebrated Cow Appreciation Day and our store's 10 yr. Anniversary. Ms. Lu (our marketing director) and Ms. Patsy (a loyal employee/friend) decorated our store up nicely. They made costumes for the employees, made cow print decorations throughout the store, flowers, hung stars from the ceiling with raving fans names' on them (customers that eat with us regularly and Kids that attend Kid's Night on a regular basis), and a cake to celebrate our Anniversary. Many freebies were given out throughout the day to the customers including free food. We had a special Kid's Night during the evening. We made cow puppets and shared cake with our customers. Unfortunately, we did not have a very big turnout at night but the lunch hour was crazy! Here are some photos of the day and evening. Amazing what people will do for free food! Ms. Patsy and I on Cow Appreciation Day. Ms. Patsy is such a special blessing to me. She helps me with Kid's Night and is also a dear friend, prayer partner, "Grandma" to my kids, and my role model. I love you Ms. Patsy!!!!!

Here is a cake Ms. Lu had made for our store's 10 yr. Anniversary. We shared the cake with our customers and it was a delicious cake!

Regan making a cow puppet at Kid's Night. Reece is down at the end of the table talking to Ms. Lu

Riley making her cow puppet at Kid's Night.

The cow making a puppet too. He is coloring spots on his puppet. Pretty impressive with his big hoofs.

The cow showing off his coloring abilities.

These are some of my precious Kid Night Kids. These girls are so sweet and always smiling.

Precious twins with the cow.

This is one of our employee's family. I love the dad's shirt - John Cow instead of John Deere.

This was a great costume and the kids loved it.

A herd of cows waiting for free food. Our lunch was crazily busy.

Check out this herd of cows.

This is one of my creative families from Kid's Night. I love their costumes.

Amazing what people will do for free food. And boy did we give a lot of free food away!!!!